respectful

adjective

ri-ˈspekt-fəl How to pronounce respectful (audio)
Definition of respectfulnext
as in deferent
marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status the children were remarkably respectful while in the president's office

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of respectful Some of the most respectful conversations a leader can have are also the most difficult or uncomfortable ones. — Farida Abjani, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 Judges thanked the audience for maintaining a respectful decorum for an intense and sensitive case. — Jen Guadarrama, IndyStar, 21 Sep. 2026 Whomever the Black citizens of Los Angeles are voting for, their respectful depiction is a rare departure from the usual screen stereotypes of the 1930s. — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026 Dion appeared to be surrounded by security, with onlookers close to her yet respectful of her space. — Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for respectful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectful
  1. deferent
  2. polite
  3. deferential
  4. reverent
Adjective
  • The Ptolemaic model depicted planets moving around Earth in a big circle, known as a deferent, then going around a smaller circle while retrograding, called an epicycle.
    — Carlie Procell, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
  • And many advocates are promoting a vision of public health that’s less dependent on mandates and appeals to authority, and more deferent to individuals’ beliefs.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2025
Definition of deferent
Adjective
  • Tonight's format, with Georgians asking the questions of candidates, meant a very polite back-and-forth between Jackson and Bottoms dominated the first half of the debate.
    — AJC.com, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Cagle added that the photo showed a confident, brilliant, brave, polite, gracious, kind and gentle young man.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of polite
Adjective
  • In an unusually deferential gesture for this bad-boy artist, Gagosian’s checklist states that Wolfson used the photo with the permission of the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Throughout his opinion, Carter repeatedly described the deferential standard of review judges are obligated to follow under the Federal Arbitration Act.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of deferential
Adjective
  • But an extensive fiiing made by the trust to a Tennessee court late Tuesday afternoon paint a different portrait of Seaver than the reverent one seen in the death announcement video.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Waterhouse often works with hairstylist Jacob Rozenberg, who has crafted her blonde hair into a reverent, glamorous bedhead.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of reverent

Browse Nearby Words

respected
respectful
respectfully
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Cite this Entry

“Respectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectful. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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